Engage The Youth In Post-2015 Development Agenda Says Justina Mutale

Justina Mutale, African Woman of the Year 2012 and Founder/CEO of POSITIVE RUNWAY: Global Catwalk to Stop the Spread says it is critical that governments, development agencies, NGOs and the corporate industry should engage the youth in the Post 2015 Development Agenda.

Ms. Mutale's organisation, POSITIVE RUNWAY is an international social development organisation whose special focus is engaging the youth in cause-related and social transformations development. The organistion utilises captivating mediums that grab and hold the attention of the young generation to effect social change. POSITIVE RUNWAY also runs a worldwide HIV/AIDS response campaign that spans six continents, and are part of ENOUGH FOOD FOR EVERYONE IF Campaign, a coalition of leading UK development organisations working to tackle world hunger.

“For the post 2015 Development Agenda to succeed, attracting the attention of the youth is crucial for governments, development agencies, NGOs as well as the corporate industry”. Says Ms Mutale

Ms Mutale was speaking in an interview as her organisation heads for Stockholm, Sweden as part of the Civil Society delegation to the 2014 Global Forum for Migration and Development (GFMD), which will take place at the Münchenbryggeriet Conference Centre in Stockholm, Sweden, from 12-16 May 2014.

“At POSITIVE RUNWAY, we use an innovative approach and methods that speak the same language as today's young generation in order to effectively engage the youth. Through our creative approach, we make the development message accessible to young people by reflecting the realities of emerging development issues and challenges in a discourse appropriate to the 21stCentury generation”. Ms Mutale said

The focus of the 2014 Global Forum will be the ongoing initiatives to include migration in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, and also to improve the overall perception of migrants and migration at all levels. The Forum will place special focus on the substantive themes of Integrating Migration in Global, Regional and National Development Agendas; Migration as an Enabler for Inclusive Economic Development; and Migration as an Enabler for Inclusive Social Development.

POSITIVE RUNWAY will stage a combined Workshop & Catwalk Show under the theme: “Fashion vs Human Trafficking: The Role of Fashion in Shaping Migrant and Labour Rights”. The event will be held on Sunday 11 May 2013 at the Stadsmissionens folkhögskola, Lövholmsvägen 18, Stockholm, Sweden. The Workshop and Catwalk Show will feature POSITIVE RUNWAY's signature Red Ribbon Models, who will walk the runway and make presentations on the role of fashion in shaping migrant and labour rights as part of the activities of the People's Global Action on Migration, Development and Human Rights u(PGA) under the theme: “The Global Economy in Crisis: Bringing Migrants Rights to Development & Crisis Situations.”.

“The Fashion industry, especially at manufacturing and factory level, employs a huge proportion of migrant labour. Fashion therefore, has the power to shape migrant and labour rights”. Says Ms Mutale

The Peoples Global Action on Migration, Development and Human Rights (PGA) serves as the organising body of the official Civil Society Days component of the Global Forum on Migration and Development. Planned activities during the PGA will be held from 9-11 May 2014, while the Civil Society Days will run from 12-14 May 2014. Activities will include plenaries by civil society leaders, alongside notable dignitaries and government leaders; strategy meetings of international campaigns; self-organized workshops; cultural events; visits to local communities; public actions; and numerous other side events.

Representatives of member State governments and Observers of the United Nations, in addition to GFMD Observers and Civil Society Organisations from across the globe are expected to attend the 2014 Global Forum for Migration and Development. The global civil society embraces the 2014 GFMD as the first global opportunity to capitalise on theoutcomes of the 2013 High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development held at the United Nations in New York.

For more information:
Email: [email protected]
http://www.gfmd.org/
http://gfmdcivilsociety.org/gfmd-civil-society-days-2014/

http://www.peoplesglobalaction.org/
http://www.positiverunway.org.uk